OSHA and Workplace Accident Investigations: What Employers Need to Know

Overview

The first few hours after a serious workplace accident can create some of the most difficult compliance decisions an employer will face. While the immediate concern is the injured employee, management must also determine whether the incident requires OSHA notification, secure relevant information, address potential hazards, and prepare for the possibility of a federal investigation. Work-related fatalities generally must be reported within eight hours, while certain severe injuries must be reported within 24 hours. How an employer responds during this period can have significant legal and operational consequences.

Recent OSHA enforcement actions illustrate the stakes. In 2026, a fatal trench collapse resulted in proposed penalties exceeding $250,000 after investigators identified failures involving protective measures, workplace inspections, and safety training. Another investigation involving fatal chemical exposures and a separate chemical fire led to nearly $800,000 in proposed penalties, including willful and serious violations. These cases highlight how OSHA investigations can expose problems that existed well before an accident, including inadequate hazard controls, insufficient training, repeated violations, and failures to address known risks.

Once OSHA begins an inspection, employers may face extensive document requests, examination of injury and illness records, worksite inspections, photographs, private employee interviews, and questions about management's knowledge of workplace hazards. The investigation may also require coordination with legal counsel, safety professionals, and outside experts, particularly when the incident involves a fatality or potentially serious violations. Citations and financial penalties are major concerns, but employers may also face operational disruption, related civil claims, and, in certain serious circumstances, potential criminal liability.

Effective preparation requires understanding both what OSHA expects and how the investigation process works. Who should communicate with investigators? What information and records should be available? How should management handle the opening conference, walkaround, employee interviews, and closing conference? What additional considerations arise when an employee dies and the employer must communicate with family members, coworkers, and the media?

This 90-minute webinar examines the procedures, reporting responsibilities, and legal considerations employers should understand before and after a workplace accident. Employment law attorney Janette Levey Frisch will walk participants through the key stages of an OSHA investigation, explaining how employers can prepare in advance, manage the investigation process, respond to regulatory scrutiny, and address the complications that can follow a serious workplace incident.

Areas covered in the session:

• Intro: What Is OSHA and why is it important to worry about OSHA compliance?
• How to Properly Prepare for Investigations
• How to Properly Manage Investigations
• Breakdown of the Elements of an OSHA Investigation (i.e., Opening and Closing Conferences, Walkaround, Document Requests, Employee and Management Interviews, etc.)
• Reporting Requirements
• Other Issues (e.g., Dealing with fatalities, internal reports, potential criminal liability, experts’ analyses, dealing with media, family, co-workers, etc.)

Handouts:

Attendees will gain access to exclusive handouts, including presentation materials provided by the speaker and additional resources developed by Amorit Education to aid your teams in post-session implementation.

Why Should Attend?

A workplace accident can quickly place HR, safety, and management teams under pressure to make decisions with significant legal consequences. Understanding OSHA's investigative procedures, reporting requirements, and expectations can help employers respond more effectively when a serious incident occurs.

This webinar will help participants identify areas where their organizations may be unprepared, understand what happens during an OSHA inspection, anticipate document requests and interviews, and better manage the responsibilities that arise following injuries or fatalities. Participants will also gain insight into the circumstances that can lead to citations, substantial penalties, and additional legal exposure.

Drawing on her experience as an employment law attorney, Janette Levey Frisch will explain the legal considerations behind the investigation process and connect them to the decisions employers must make when responding to OSHA. Her guidance will help attendees approach these situations with greater preparation and a clearer understanding of their responsibilities.

Who Will Benefit?

This webinar is designed for professionals responsible for workplace safety, OSHA compliance, accident reporting, incident investigations, and managing regulatory inspections. It is particularly valuable for those involved in responding to workplace injuries, fatalities, and related legal or compliance risks. Those who will benefit include:

• 
  Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Directors
• EHS Managers
• Occupational Health & Safety Managers
• Workplace Safety Officers
• Safety and Compliance Managers
• OSHA Compliance Managers
• Risk Management Directors and Managers
• Human Resources Directors
• Human Resources Managers
• Employee Relations Managers
• Operations Directors and Managers
• Plant and Facility Managers
• Site Safety Managers
• Incident Investigation Managers
• Corporate Compliance Officers
• In-House Legal Counsel
• Employment and Labor Law Attorneys